#448
February 17, 2026

Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse
Gregory Done, DSOM, L.Ac.

Our Sponsors

Mayway
Jane
Blue Poppy
golden flower chinese herbs

There’s a moment, in the slack tide between one flow and another, when a potent stillness arises, and the possibility of a new direction arrives with a feeling of invitation. It’s like standing on the threshold of a dream.

We share this conversation with Gregory Done as we metamorphize from the Wood Snake to the Fire Horse. What’s in store as we enter a year of unmitigated Fire? Where is caution advised and where do you double down with the creative energy of the Horse?

Listen into this conversation as we explore time-as-qi, what a dramatic handoff between years can do to the psyche; cautions around giving free rein to the unbridled  “sovereign fire” of the Heart,  and how discipline shapes intensity into something useful.

If you’ve felt the past year pulling you inward, you’re not alone. In this conversation we discuss the natural inclination to come back out—into action, into contact, into the bright problem of more momentum than you’re accustomed to.

Saddle up!

 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Time as a living current that shapes who we become—Time isn’t just a backdrop here—it’s an active qi system that imprints consciousness, temperament, and the way we meet the world.
  •   History as a mirror of recurring energetic patterns—Cycles echo, and looking back isn’t nostalgia—it’s pattern recognition that helps us see what this kind of heat can build or burn.
  • The passage from hidden transformation into radiant action—We move from quiet, internal snake-like underworld into horse-style daylight where things want to happen.
  • When cycles turn and the world flips from shadow to clarity—The shift can feel like a bubble popping: what was murky and interpretive becomes plainspoken, obvious, and suddenly actionable.
  • The heart as the flame of presence and personal sovereignty—Heart-fire in this frame is the felt sense of “I’m here, I’m alive, I’m steering,” where boundaries sharpen and self-possession becomes a practice.
  • Directing intensity without letting it consume us—The year brings fuel—our work is to aim it, so we get momentum instead of scorch marks.
  • The art of training raw energy into purposeful movement—Think warhorse rather than stampede: discipline and direction turn wild power into speed with a destination.
  • Embodiment as a doorway into wisdom and healing—The invitation is to drop the overthinking mind and let the body lead—through skill, craft, movement, and the sanity of the tangible.
  • Joy as a stabilizing force in times of momentum—Joy as directive regulation—healthy heart-fire that keeps intensity human, social, and resilient.
  • Recognizing when fire becomes excess — and restoring balance—When the heat tips into restlessness, burnout, or volatility, we are called cool and contain by cultivating water, rest, and steadier rhythms.
  • How each zodiac path meets the energy of the year—Each sign has its own handshake with Fire Horse qi—some ride the wave, some suffer the expansive chaos, and some get an unexpected curriculum.
  • Growth that arises through friction and challenge—The hard aspects aren’t just “bad luck”—they’re pressure points where we’re asked to mature, simplify, and find real traction.

This year features a massive concentration of Fire energy, placing high stress on the Heart and Kidneys. Stay grounded and watch out for Heart Fire and emotional volatility. The intensity may lead to restlessness, impulsivity, and burnout, so emotional resilience, patience, and rest are key. Balance Fire and Water, root the Shen, and circulate the excess. Circulation is tonification in a Fire Horse year.

Gregory Done, DSOM, L.Ac.

My name is Gregory David Done, I am a practitioner of Classical Chinese Medicine and Polestar Astrology.

I have an MA in Buddhist Studies from Naropa University and a Doctor of Science in Oriental Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine. I am a published poet and author and write extensively on the Chinese tradition as taught by Liu Ming.

I am deeply interested in the immigration and cultural assimilation of Asian Wisdom and Wellness traditions in America and a vocal proponent of a pluralistic, non-sectarian approach to practice guided by traditional culture and lineage.

I currently live in Enumclaw, WA, and practice at Docere Integrated Medicine.

Links and Resources

Read Gregory’s blog on the Fire Horse year on his website tigersplay.com.

You can pre-order his book from the seller of your choice..

Visit Gregory on Facebook & Instagram.

 

Member Only Content

This additional content is available to members of our podcast.
Become a Member

Explore Similar Podcasts

Subscribe to the Qiological Podcast in Your Favorite Player

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

You don't have access to purchase this item.